5th best in AL East? Sox, of course

You can easily make a case that the fifth best team in the American League East as we sit here this winter morning is the Boston Red Sox.

What? The worst team in the division?

Yes.

Take a look: The Yankees and Orioles made the playoffs last year and seem no worse for the wear. Tampa won xx game last year and was in the playoff hunt all September. And even the Blue Jays, who won four more games last season than the Red Sox, are arguably the most improved team in the division, thanks to the Miami Marlins fire sale.

And Boston’s big move to date? It traded its starting shortstop for a manager.

AISDE: The Sox owners have other issues. Liverpool, their toy in the Premier League, currently sits at 12th in the table. That puts the high-priced and historic club closer to relegation (bottom 3) than the Champions League (top four)

Fine.

As if things weren’t bad enough in Boston with the baseball team, there was this news on Thursday: